mulholland



Jan 27, 1931 v. MULHOLLAND 1,790,434

LEER FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 18, 1927 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 27,1931. v. MULHOLLAND 1,790,434

LEER FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-5h68?. 2

i 44 40 F94 4l Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERGILMULHOLLAND, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HARTFORD- EMPIRECOMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE LEER FORANNEALING vGLASSIARE Application tiled November 18, 1827. Serial No.234,146.

This invention relates to leers for annealing glassware, and morespecifically to leers of the type embodying a tunnel having means foraccurately controlling the temperature gradient at all parts thereof.

Among the objects of this invention are to maintain the walls of atunnel leer at a uniform temperature across any transverse section. Asheat radiation is proportional to the difference of the fourth powers ofthe absolute temperatures of the ware and the walls, and only the firstpower of the distance therebetween. all parts of the Ware will bemaintained at a substantially uniform temperaturc and even annealing isthereby assured, with the consequent freedom of the Ware from internalstresses and strains.

4I have found that an excellent way of achieving the results desired isto construct a tunnel leer with one or more helical flues coiledthereabout, referably two, and preferably also these ues entirelyenvelope the tunnel and are substantially integral therewith, or atleast have a common wall with the tunnel. In order properly to heat aplurality of fines, it may be desirable to use a corresponding number:of furnaces, one connected with each of the flues, thus giving greatilexibility to the device. An advantage of my helical flue constructionis that the lues are continuous, with no abrupt turns in the directionof flow of the gaseous media, and, therefore, the pressure drop. of thegases along the flue is minimized.

A further object of the invention is to use various portions of the samelues for heating and cooling respectively, and in order to control thetemperature gradient in the tunnel more accurately, to vary at will therelative lengths of the heating and cooling portions. I also contemplatethe use of any one of the fines for heating or cooling, as desired, oran combination of the above described metho s of operations.

Further objects of the invention are to permit of accurate control ofthe temperatures at all parts of the leer and to provide i for therelative expansion of the various parts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be ap arentfrom a reading of the following specihlation and subjoined claims whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a leer constructedaccording to my invenr tion;

Fig. 2 is a section on theline 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 in Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5*5 in Fig. 1, showing the end of theleer tunnel draft producing means in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the entrance end of the leer with some partsbroken away and in ection to show the interior construction; an

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the delivery end portion of theleer tunnel showing the draft producing mechanism.

In general this invention is. directed to the application to a helicalflue leer of the various principles and, advantages which I have alsoembodied in other types of leers, such as that shown and described in myPatent No. 1,560,481, granted Nov. 3, 1925.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, the leer comprises asectional tunnel A; a pair of fire boxes B located respectively aboveand below the forward or ware-receivin end of the tunnel; a pluralit offlues communicating one with each ofthe fire boxes and extending in adouble helix about the tunnel from end to end thereof; a. draftproducing device D, specifically a suction fan communicating with bothflues; a ware sorting table E located at the exit end of the tunnel; anendless conveyor F, the ware-bearing strand of which traverses thetunnel and the sorting table E and the idle strand of which returns tothe entrance end of the tunnel beneath the leer; and `a oo nveyor drivinmechanism G.

The severaI sections of the tunnel are secured together in end-to-endrelation and are supported by suitable framework which includes a pairof lon itudinally extendin channel members 1 ang transversely exten ingchannel members 2 which are in turn supported by vertically adjustablepedesand tals 3. The tunnel may be slightly inclined downwardly from itslot or receiving en to the cool or delivery end to cause a tendency forair to flow throughihe tunnel, in a direction opposite to that of themovement of the ware. rlhis flow of air through the tunnel is preferablybarely suflicient to prevent an inflow of cold air at the hot end of thetunnel Without necessarily exerting a material cooling influence uponthe ware.

Each of the sections of the tunnel is preferably constructed of rastiron and comprises a substantially cylindrical member 4 having aconveyor supporting member 5 formed in substantiall chordal relationthereto preferably by integral supporting portions 6, and two or moresemi-annular members, such as 7 and 8, which may be suitably securedtogether by forming thereon anges 9 and 10 which may be connected bybolts 11, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Members T and 8 arerovided with inwardl directed helical anges 12 which, together with theouter Casin of these members and the cylinder mem rs 4, form a pair ofhelical passage-ways or flues C com letelyjacketing the tunnel member 4.

Tlie forward or entrance end of the tunnel is ri 'dly secured as bybolts 13 (Fig. 6) to the c annels 1 of the supportin frame of the leer.The first section, genera y indicated at 14, is provided with a closuremember 15, forming dead ends at 16 for the flues C, and a plate 17 fixedto member 15 and having an opening 18 the size of the tunnel openingwhich is desired. The rear end of the first section 14 and each end ofthe succeeding sections are provided with -pairs of bosses 19 in whichstub shafts 2() (Fig. 4) are secured, on which are jonrnaled wheels 21which rest upon rails 22, in turn rigidly fixed to supporting channelmembers 1. This construction provides for the expansion of the varioussections of the tunnel individually and collectively with respect to thesupport as only the entrance end of the first section 14 is rigidlysecured thereto. The tunnel sections 4 ma be provided with inturnedflanges 23 at either end, leaving an opening 24 tapermit the passage ofthe conveyor and the ware therethrough, these flanges being securedtogether in any suitable manner, as by bolts 25.

The leer is heated by a air of similar furnaces B, each comprisin acombustion chamber 26 having an opening 27 at one end thereof, intowhich an oil or gas burner, diaammatically illustrated at Q8, isdirected.

he combustion chambers are suitably lined with refractory blocks 29 andare provided near their outlet ends with curved baille members 30 whichdirect the flames away from the outlets 31 and 34. the opposite wallsbeing semicircular to direct the products of combustion smoothly intothe outlets.

Passages 3Q Iare provided communicating between the outlets lll and 54and the atmosphere and are provided at their outer ends with suitabledampers 33 by which the inflow of air may be controlled. Air may beadmitted through passages` 32 to support secondary combustion and todilute the products of combustion if it is desired to cool them. Thefurnace outlets 31 and 34 respectively communicate in a tangentialdirection with one of the fines C, adjacent to their closed ends 16. Theoutlets 31 and 34 may be provided with suitable dampers as shown for thepurpose of controlling the amount of combustion products admitted to therespective flues.' While l have shown and described one particular typeof furnace, the invention is not limited to this, but an suitable sourceof hot media. may be use and if desired, both flues may communicate witha single source of hot media.

Both flues C are open at the exit end of the leer, as shown at 35 (Fig.5) and are .there provided with arcuate danipcrs 36 mounted upon shafts37 and provided with suitable adiusting means, as for example, worms 38coo rating with pinions fixed to the shafts the worms being operable bysuitable hand wheels 39.

Cooling air enters the end of the flues C through openings 35, thevolume of such air bein controlled primaril by dempers 36, the an' assinalon the ues encircling the tunnel rom t e coo toward the hot end of theleer and being gradually heated by absorbing heat from the tunnel walls.The

lill) distance traveled by this cooling air and the location of thepoint of change in the direction of flow of the media through the fluesC are controlled as hereinafter described.

The fines C are maintained at subatmospheric pressure by means of thesuction fan D, which communicates with a conduit l0 extending parallelto the leer from the cooler or exit end for substantially half of itslength, although this proportion may be varied if desired. The conduit40 communicates at intervals along thev length of the leer with each ofthe flues C through independent passages 41, each provided with suitabledampers 42, as illustrated in Fig. 4, controlled by levers 43. Theselevers may cooperate'with a quadrant 44 having a series of notchestherein which may be engaged by a suitable spring pressed pivotallymounted detent 45. By suitable regulation of the dampers 42, it ispossible to "ary the distance which the heated ases travel along theflue and the remaining istance which the cooling air travels from theexit openings 35 in the opposite direction, and al o vary the volume ofthe cooling air, thus controlling the temperature gradient in thisportion of the leer.

The hotter portion of the leer at the left of the end of the conduit 40,as shown in Fig.

l, is provided with a plurality of spaced temperature controls 46. Eachot these controls comprises au inlet opening 47 into each of the fluesC, as shown in Fig. 6, theopenings 47 befng provided with dampers 48 andconA trolling mechanisms 49 corresponding to dampers 42 and thecontrolling mechanisms 43, 44 and 45. By suitable adjustment of thecontrolling mechanisms 49, the amount of air may be admitted at suitablepoints alongl the leer to dilute the hot gases from the furnaces B andthus practically control the temperatures and the temperature gradientWithin the leer tunnel.

If desired, only one of the furnaces B may be operated, the other beingplugged up in any suitable manner and the dampers 4Q and 48communicating With its flue closed; or if desired, the flue may be usedfor cooling the leer by opening some of the dampers to admit cooling aireither through the end opening 35 or the air controls 46 and theopenings 4T. In any case, inasmuch as the` Vlines are arranged inhelical form entirely enveloping the tunnel, the entire Wall of thetunnel at any transverse section may be maintained at substantially aneven temperature, so that the radiation of the heat from all parts ofthe ware to the tunnel, or vice versa, will serve to maintain all partsof the ware at any transverse section at an even temperature andinternal stresses may be positively precluded in the finished ware.

Dissipation of heat from the tunnel and the heating lues may beminimized by surrounding the tunnel with suitable heat insulatingmaterial 50. such as powdered kieselguhr or the like. This material mayhe contained within an outer casing 5l of su'table material,

such as sheet metal completely surrounding the tunnel and securedthereto by suitable spacer bolts 52, expansion joints being pl'ovided inthis outer casing if desired. The insulating material may be ofdifferent thicknesses along the tunnel, as is shown in Fig. 1, where thepart to the left of the joint 53 is of the greater thickness and thepart between that joint and joint 54 is of less thickness, the portionsof the tunnel to the right ofthe joint 54 being nninsulated so as toaccelerate the cooling of the ware.

The sorting table E comprises a plurality of spaced parallellongitudinal bars 55 supported at their forward ends by the frame 55ofthe leer and at their rear ends the frame 56 of the belt drivingmechanism G. Rollers 57 are carried at spaced intervals by the bars 55and provide a support for the conveyor as it emerges from the tunnelbearing c3 the annealed ware. The table E is of sufiicient length topermit several persons to stand side by side on each side to inspect andremove the ware from the conveyor F for packing. The conveyor F andtable E are 55 suliiciently narrow to permit easy access from desired yeither side of the table to ware located in the central portion of theconveyor.

The conveyor F may comprise an endless belt of flexible open structure.the ware-bearing strand of Which lies llat upon the cast iron supportingmembers 5, which constitute the bottom of the leer tunnel, and uponrollers 57 of the receiving table E.

The conveyor driving mechanism may be of any desired type but preferablyis the same as is shown in my Patent No. 1,560,481, granted November 3,1925, and comprises a pairof geared driving rolls 58 and 59 engaging thebelt between them and suitable reducing gears 60 for driving the rolls.Means are provided, as indicated diagrammatically at 6l for taking upthe slack in the conveyor belt, such means being fully disclosed in mysaid patent. From the take-up mechanism 6l.. the idle strand oftheconveyor passes over roller 62 and thence beneath the conveyor to itsentrance end, it being supported at intel'- vals by rollers 63 suitablymounted upon the pedestals 3. At the entrance end, the belt passes uparound roller 64 and thence over roller 65 into the tunnel.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a leer ofvery rugged and durable construction and one that may be assembled veryquickly and easily from a plurality of similar and interchangeablesections. Also it will be apparent that by my construction and method ofdrawing the heated gases and cooling air through the flucs atsubatmospheric pressure, the injurious effects of leakage of these mediainto the tunnel is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, supporting thetunnel throughout its entire length by anti-friction devices renders itpossible to eliminate expansion or other joints between the sections ofthe tunnel, through which leaks may exist or may develop, and permitsthe tunnel to expand lengthwise as a unit on its support. By arrangingthe lilies 1n a helical manner completely enveloping the tunnel, I amenabled to maintain the Walls of any transverse section of the tunnel ata substantially even temperature, and thus more accurately to controlthe transfer of heat to and from the ware.

Inasmuch as many modifications might be made in my device withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, I do not wish to be limitedexcept by the scope of the appended claims, which are to be construed asbroadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel and ahelical flue of good heat conducting material surrounding said tunnelthrough which media may be passed for controlling and varying thetemperatures within the tunnel.

2. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, meansfor moving the ware therethrou h, and a helical liuc surrounding saidtunne and extending from end to end thereof throu h which media may .hepassed for contro ling and varying the temperatures Within the tunnei.

3. A continuous leer 'for annealing glass ware coln'rising a tunnel. asource of hot gases, a fiile communicating therewith and` arranged inhelical form about said tunnel, and a draft producing means to maintainsaid flue at sub-atmospheric pressure.

4. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, aplurality of fun naces adjacent to the entrance end of said tunnel, anda plurality ot helical flues completely surrounding said tunnel from endto end thereof. one of said fines being connected with each of said`furnaces.

5. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, afurnace adjacent. to the receivin end of said tunnel, a helical fluesurroun ing said tunnel and extendinfr from end to end thereofa ductcone n v u x o necting sa1d furnace with said flue enterlng the lattcrina tangential direction, and means for conveying the ware through saidtunnel.

6. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, afurnace adjacent to the receiving end of said tunnel, a helical fluecommunicating with said furnace and surrounding said tunnel, and an airinlet passage communicating with said flue adjacent to said furnace tosupply air for secondary combustion and to dilute the combus tionproducts.

7. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, ahelical heating flue surrounding said tunnel, a plurality of air inletpassages at intervals along said tunnel communicating with said flue,dampers in said passages, and means of creating a draft through saidflue and maintaining it at subatmospheric pressure.

8. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, ahelical heating flue surrounding said turinel, means for causing aheating medium to flow along said flue at subatmospheric pressure, andmeans located at intervals along said flue for controlling thetemperature thereof.

9. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, ahelical flue surrounding said tunnel and extending substantially fromend to end thereof, said Hue being effective to conduct a., heatingmedium entering at one'end and a cooling medium entering at the otherend, andra single means lo cause a flow of both media from theirrespective ends toward a point intermediate the ends.

l0. A continuous leer for annealin glassware comprising a tunnel, ahelical ue surrounding said tunnel substantially from end to endthereof, said flue being effective to conduct a heating medium enteringat one end. and a cooling medium entering at the other end, a singlemeans to cause a flow of both media from their respective ends to- 'warda point intermediate the ends, and means to vary the position ot' saidpoint longitudinally of the tunnel.

ll. ,A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel. ahelical tine surrounding said tunnel substantially from end to endthereof, said tlue being effective to conduct a heating medium enteringat one end and a cooling medium entering at the other end, a singlemeans effective to cause a flow of both media. from their respectiveends toward a pointintermediate the ends, and means located at intervalsalong said flue for controlling the temperature gradient thereof.

12. A continuous leer for annea lng glassware comprising a tunnel, ahelica flue surrounding said tunnel substantially from end to endthereof, said flue being etective to conduct a heating medium enteringat one end and a cooling medium entering at the other end, a singlemeans effective to cause a iow of both media from their respective endsto ward a point intermediate the ends, means located at intervals alongsaid flue for controlling tlie temperature gradient thereof, and meansfor determinin the position of said point longitudinally o the flue.

13. A continuous leer for annealin glass ware comprising a tunnel, ahelical heating flue surrounding said tunnel, air inlet means located atintervals along said flue, whereby the temperature gradient in thetunnel may be regulated, a draft producing device, a conduit leadingthereto along a portion of said tunnel, and a plurality of damper-edpassages located at intervals along said flue and communicating withsaid conduit, said fine and conduit hein at subatmospheric pressure.

14. A continuous leer for annealing glass- Ware comprising a tunnel, acontinuous helical heating flue surrounding said tunnel andcommunicating at its cooler end with the atmosphere through a damperedopening, means located at intervals along the hotter portions of saidflue, to admit variable amounts of air thereto, a conduit extendingalong the tunnel and communicating with the cooler portion of the {iuethrough a plurality of dampered openings, and means communicating withsaid conduit for creating a draft through said line and conduit andmaintaining both at subatmospheric pressure.

15. A continuous leer for annealing glass- Ware comprising a tunnel anda pair of lues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix.

16. A continuous leer for annealing glass- Ware comprising artunnel anda plurality of helical ilues completely enveloping said tunnel, each Bueextending substantially from end to end thereof.

17 A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, havinga pair of continuous lues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix,each of said iues being adapted to conduct temperature controlling mediaentering each end and passing inwardl of each Hue, and means at each endof eac of said flues for controlling the passage of media therethrough.

18. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, apair of continuous flues surrounding'said tunnel in a dou ble helix,each of said flues adapted to be connected at one end to a source ofheating media and open at their other ends to the atmosphere, and meansto cause a flow of the heating media and air inwardly from theirrespective ends.

19. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, apair of 'heating flues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, andmeans disposed at intervals along said iues for controlling thetemperatures therein.

20. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, apair of temperature controlling fines surrounding said tunnel in adouble helix, dampered air inlet openings disposed at intervals alongsaid flues for controlling the temperature therein, and means to causethe media to ilow in said flues at subatmospheric pressure. f

21. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, apair of uninterrupted temperature controlling liues surrounding saidtunnel in a double helix, the cooler ends of said lues communicatingwith a, source of cooling medium, and means for' causing a flow ofheating media through portions of said lilies in one direction and thecooling medium through the remaining portions of said flues in theopposite direction.

22. A continuous leer for annealin glassware comprising a tunnel, a pairof eating flues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, the coolerends of said lues communicating with a source of cooling medium, meansfor causing 'a low of heating media through portions of said lues in onedirection and the cooling medium through the remaining portions of saidlues in the opposite direction, and independent means in each iue forvarying the lengths of said portions.

23. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, apair of heating lues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, asuction device, a conduit leading along said tunnel, and a plurality ofdampered passages communicating between each of said flues and saidconduit, whereby to control the effective length of said heating fluesand the temperature gradient in said tunnel.

24. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, apair of uninterrupted temperature controlling flues surrounding saidtunnel in a double helix a plurality of dampered air inlet openings'sposed at intervals along each Hue, a suction device, a conduit leadintherefrom along said tunnel, and a plurality of independent damperedpassages communicating between each of said flues and said conduit,whereby] independently to control the effective lengt of said flues andthe temperature gradient in said tunnel, said suction device maintainingboth ilues at subatmospheric pressure.

25. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, apair of temperature controlling flues surrounding said tunnel in adouble helix, means adjacent to the hotter ends of said lines forsupplying independently regulable amounts of heating media thereto, aplurality of independent dampered air inlet openings disposed atintervals along each flue, a suction device, a conduit leading therefromalong said tunnel, and a plurality of independent dam ered passagescommunicating between each o said lues and said conduit, whereby tocontrol the effective length of said heating iues and the.

temperature gradient in said tunnel, said suction device maintainingboth flues at subatmospheric pressure.

26. A continuous leer for annealin glassware comprising a tunnel, ahelical eating flue surrounding said tunnel, a furnace adjacent to theentrance end of the leer, a assage for directing the products of comustion from said furnace tangentially into said flue, said tunnel beinconstructed of a plurality of interchangeab e cast iron sectionsarranged end to end, a support for said leer, means for mounting saisections on said suplport and permitting their free expansion witrespect thereto, and an endless conveyor for moving ware through saidtunnel.

27. A continuous leer for annealing. glassware comprising a tunnel, aflue associated therewith and extending substantially from end to endthereof for controlling the temperatures within said tunnel, said fluebeing effective to conduct a heating medium entering at one end and acooling medium enterin at the other end, a single means to cause a glowof both media from their respective ends toward a point intermediatetheir ends, and means to vary the position of said point longitudinallyof the tunnel.

28. A continuous leer for annealing glasse, ware comprising a tunnel, atemperature con:

trolling flue associated therewith, air inlet` means located atintervals along said flue, whereby the temperature gradient in thetunnel may be regulated, a draft producing device, a conduit leadingthereto along a portion of said tunnel, and a plurality of damperedpassages located at intervals along said Hue and communicating with saidconduit, said flue and conduit being at subatmospheric pressure.

29. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprisin a tunnel, aheated flue assocated therewit means to supply hot gases to saidue'adjacent to the entrance e'nd of .5 said tunnel, air inlet located atintex'velsA along said flue, wl'gellehyv the temperature gradient in thetunnel may be r lated, a draft reducing devi a. conduit eading thereto aon a portion o snixltlmnel, and a tervals along sind flue andcommunicating with sd conduit; said Hue and condutbei atsubatmosphericpressure. o

igled at Hartford, Connecticut, this 15th u day of November, 1927. y

' VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

lo plurality of ampered passages located at intervals along said flueand communicating with said conduit, said Hue and conduit beatsubatmospheric pressure. igned at Hartford, Connecticut, this 15th 15day of November, 1927.

VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

VCERTiFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,790,434. Granted January 27, 1931, to

VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,line 2, strike out the word "continuous"; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of February, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patente..

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,790,434. Granted January 27, 1931, to

VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,line 2, strike out the word "continuous"; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of February, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Sell) Acting Commissioner of Patente.,

